PrepSports

Wednesday marked a sad time in the lives of many in this county, state and beyond as former Dorman football coach and athletic director Dale Evans died after a long bout with cancer. Words can’t describe what a good man he was and the legacy he’s leaving. Below are comments I’ve asked people to send me about their thoughts of this beloved coach. For those that would like to add any comments, please e-mail me at kevin.melton@shj.com.

Damon Jones, DE/OLB, 1989-92, currently Head of Projects at Milliken in Raleigh, N.C.

“Coach Evans always worked hard to build us up to be as good as we could be on the field and he worked even harder to teach us the value of always approaching life with a positive attitude. He introduced me to the ‘stick to the task poem and taught me that ‘your attitude determines your altitude’ in life.
He was a good man.”

David Powell, OT, 1988-91, currently a football coach at Polk County (N.C.) High School

“Without question, one of the better men to have walked this earth. Coach Evans smile and warmth engulfed any room he walked into and his civil astuteness showed no bounds. He will be missed, but will fondly live in the hearts of all that had the benefit of knowing him. I love ya Coach and have always been mindful of the poem, you made us learn, for when life threw up obstacles. ‘Stick to the task, until it sticks to you. Beginners are many, enders are few. Honor, glory, power and praise always goes to the one who stays. Stick to the task, until it sticks to you. Bend with it, sweat with it, smile with it too. For out of the bend, the sweat and the smile will come life’s victories after awhile.”

Coby Peeler, DE, 1987-90, currently a football coach at Greer High School

“Went into coaching in large part to his influence. Words can’t explain what he meant to so many people. I love him like my own family, and he loved everybody like his! We are all better people for having known and have our lives touched by Coach Dale Evans.

“Coach Evans is, was, and will always be one of the most influential and inspirational persons I have ever had the privilege of having in my life. He always taught us all to never give up, and to push ourselves past what we thought was our limit. Coach Evans practiced what he preached. He coached with the intensity that he expected from his players. There is no way that anyone who played for him didn’t leave a better person for having him as a mentor in our lives. However, the moment that stood out to me the most was not on the football field. It was while working security for a prom at Dorman High School as a Spartanburg County Deputy. I was walking down one of the hallways toward the cafeteria and I heard that distinctive voice call my name. Coach Evans said, ‘Josh Gencarelli, how are you? You’re looking good.’ It meant so much to me that he remembered me and that in some way I had made him proud. I am so thankful that he was my coach. His legacy will live on through his family and through countless players who wouldn’t be the persons we are today without his influence in our lives. Love you Coach!”

“Everything we have done over here the past decade (35+ championships, etc.) has Dale Evans’ influence all over it. My six years under him were phenomenal. Great man.”

Sam Napier, Dorman boys and girls tennis coach

“Coach Evans is the one that got me to coach the Dorman tennis teams. I learned a lot from him how to coach and handle students with character, patience, kindness, and a love for what you are doing. I never saw him without a smile, and he always had a genuine concern for all the athletes, coaches and the coaches’ families. He was very kind to my family.”

Robert Ross, DB, 1988-91, currently assistant principal at Chapman High School

“Coach Evans was a great man who taught us how to win at the most important game, the game of life. He loved us like we were his own children. He pushed us to do our best no matter what because he taught us to ‘stick to the task.’”

Ken Kiser, Dorman High School principal

“What he stood for was knowing that when a kid left our school and our program, that they carried that on into their lives to be better husbands, wives, leaders in the community and parents. It’s really more about the men and women than the trophies on the shelves.”

Darryl Owings, Spartanburg School District 6 Superintendent

“Coach was always about looking at where we were, looking at where we were headed and how we could be better and always about inclusion. When I say that, when we added the sports we’ve added, it’s to make sure the kids have more opportunities.”

Trey Wyatt, OL, 1991-93, currently a Greenville County police officer

“A lot of people say they bleed the color of their favorite school, but I know that Coach Evans bled Dorman High School blue. The man that taught me to ‘
Stick to the task until it sticks to you. Beginners are many. Enders are few. Honor, glory, power and praise always goes to the one who stays. Stick to the task until it sticks to you. Bend with it, sweat with it, smile with it, too. For out of the bend, the sweat and the smile will come life’s victories after awhile.’ Thank you Coach Evans for everything you have meant to me and my family. DHS YES!”

“I had the honor of being on Coach Evans’ football staff at Dorman High School. I remember rooming with Coach Evans at the Coaching Clinic in Columbia and hearing all his great stories. I appreciate the basketball coaching opportunities that he gave me. When I left Dorman to coach at Boiling Springs, I set up my program based on the things that I learned from Coach Evans. As a young coach, I learned many things that made me successful as a coach and in the game of life. I can never thank Coach Evans enough for the things that I learned and the great memories of him over the years. My thoughts and prayers go out to Coach Evans’ family during this time.”

Eric Thacker, former “Voice of the Cavaliers”

“Coach Dale Evans was one of my dearest friends. He was the one who approved me as the ‘voice of the Cavaliers’ back in ’94 when I first met him. Since that time we became friends and neighbors (Coach and Mrs. Evans live 5 houses down from us). He saw my two children grow to now teenagers. We mostly talked football: West Virginia, Ohio State, Michigan State and Presbyterian College. But more time than not we talked High School football: DORMAN…particularly, but he was very informative of all the programs around our county. But when he talked about his two grandsons that’s when he really beamed that Evans smile. I often hoped that he could watch my daughter play softball. He was so happy that she made the Dorman C team as a 7th grader this past year. I loved Coach Evans, he was a dear friend to me and our family and we will all miss him. I Thank God for Coach Dale Evans he touched so many lives and always saw the positives in everyone. He had a poster in his office of two little kids, one white, one black, they were embraced. The caption read ‘love is colorblind’ That is Coach Dale Evans.”

“Coach Evans will certainly be missed. He was much more than just a football coach. He instilled life qualities such as character and integrity. No doubt he loved his players and Cavalier family. We were able to do the BMW performance road course two years ago. His adrenaline rush wasn’t just for football. He loved all aspects of life.”

Lee Turnipseed, ILB, 1992

“The earth is a better place for having known Dale M. Evans.”

Mark Gregory, DE/OLB, 1989-92, currently owner of The Ground Guys, Landscape Management Company

“Coach Evans was one of the most influential people in my life besides my Mom and Dad. He always knew how to get the best out me even when I didn’t know I had it in me. He taught me so many life lessons at such a young age that I still use everyday!!! When I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer many years ago, during my surgeries and treatments I was reminded of coach Evans always telling me, ‘no matter how much it hurts or how much you wanna give into the pain, you can always do more than you think you can…always do one more…’ I have lived my life with that attitude and share that with as many people as I can. Thank you Coach Evans, your legacy lives on in each one of the people you have inspired to make their good their better and their better their BEST!! I Love you!!

Joey Rich, OL/DL, 1989-92, currently a data analyst

“My thoughts and prayers are with the Evans’ family. Coach Evans was more than a coach. He brought all of us inspiration, not just through playing sports, but in academics and in the game of life. His door was always open when you needed him and he never turned anyone away. He taught us how to persevere with everything in life from, ‘Find a Way to Win!’ to ‘Good, Better, Best, Never Let it Rest…’ and ‘Stick to the Task!’ Coach Evans is a Legend that will live in our hearts and memories forever! God Bless you Coach Evans.”

Pete Yanity, WSPA sports director

“Dale Evans is one of those people who gets a consistent, positive, assessment from anyone who ever knew him. He was easily one of the most likeable people I’ve ever been around in over 30 years in my business. For all of the responsibilities he had in his long run at Dorman you never saw any expression from him that they were even the slightest burden. He accepted each day as being blessed that he could be his very best. I can only imagine that in the earlier portion of his career, as both a longtime college assistant and then Dorman’s head coach, the greatest pride he took in his work was developing young people to reach greatness. That’s certainly reflected in the many success stories that have been written since with those he impacted profoundly.

In life, we often can reflect on the simple moments. I had one with Dale and his wife this past Christmas Eve when, timing being what it was, I needed to interview him on that particular afternoon for a story about his upcoming trip to the Rose Bowl as a guest of Michigan State head coach Mark D’Antonio, one of the many of his former players who reached an impressive level.

My brief interview with Dale about his experiences relating to this subject were certainly enjoyable. But it was the hour-and-a-half or so with the camera off that I’ll always cherish as we swapped some common stories and talked about various places in our pasts where we had common ties.

I realized then, and always will, what a wonderful gift this experience was for me.”

“I too, was significantly impacted by him as a young high school athlete. As a freshman, he sought me out and made me feel welcome as a new football player on campus back in 1992. He shared with me the poem ‘Stick to the Task’ and from that day, the copy he gave me still resides in my wallet, now some 23 years later. I went on to have a very successful athletic career at Dorman, lettering in 4 sports multiple times, becoming captain of the Cross Country, Track, and Wrestling teams, and winning the 1996 State Championship in the 800M. Throughout my athletic career, the support and confidence he placed in me made me realize I had so much more potential than I thought I did. As a successful college athlete, student, and now business person and dad, I can directly attribute much of my personal success to Coach Evans’ mentoring and his confidence in me at such a young age. What a great man, great citizen, and wonderful representative for Dorman High School. Thank you, Coach Evans. You will be missed.”

Mark Dempsey, Dorman defensive line coach

“I have had the privilege of playing and coaching for some outstanding men: most notably Ronnie Wilson, Cally Gault, Mike Ayers, W.L. Varner, Bobby Bentley, and Dave Gutshall. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to work with Coach Evans at Dorman since he had retired before I got here. I am, however, so thankful I got to know him on a more personal level through the years I’ve been a Cavalier. Without question he was special. But what made him that way was his ability to make everyone else who came into contact with him feel special. He was a TRUE servant-leader and personified the love of Jesus Christ. I know I would have loved playing and/or coaching for him, but just count my blessings for having known the man. May God grant his family a peace and comfort that surpasses all understanding.”

Erroll Morgan, Dorman athletic secretary

“Coach Dale Evans’ legacy is very well established and has been for years. It speaks for itself. I cannot add a comment to enhance that. He has earned it well. On a personal level, he was a best friend, confidant, problem solver and hero. None of these are new to anyone that knew Coach Dale Evans.

When he retired, I thought – how will these athletic halls survive – without our mentor and leader. I will never forget his kindness. His family is so dear to me. His wife, Ms. Jo has also been a confidant. She always was willing to help. Thanks Ms. Jo. He loved those grandsons. Never came to my office without a story about something they had done or said. I love this family. I use to tell him he was nicer than I. He would “accept” things with a smile, which I could not do. If I praised him all day, it would not be enough. My God is shuffling with him today. Not that we danced at work, but he had a mini thing he’d do, just to lighten the day. God is enjoying his sense of humor and wisdom. Coach is suffering no more with pain. I can accept that.”

“It is with great pride and honor that I can call Coach Evans a friend of mine for the past 27 years. It seems like just yesterday that I walked into his office at the old Dorman Campus to talk with him about an idea I had to be involved with the athletic program with my skills as a chiropractor. I was nervous because it was a new concept to have chiropractors involved with high school, college and professional sports, but he put me at ease right away with his warm hand shake and that great smile. He agreed to let me participate with a couple of stipulations. 1. If I said I was going to be there and help, then I needed to be there. He didn’t want anything to distract his players on Friday night, and 2. Always conduct myself as a professional with pride in being a Cavalier. Not do or act in anyway that would bring dishonor to the athletic program. I told him ‘Yes Sir…that wont be a problem’ and as they say the rest is history. I was with the program for 25 years, retiring 2 years ago. He was a class act, a visionary, and a good man. His decision to allow me to volunteer my time and skills to the Dorman Cavaliers was a big part of who I became as a chiropractor, and how I treat patients to this very day. I wouldn’t give up a single one of those Friday nights. I found out about 5-6 years into helping with the program that he caught some flack for allowing me to work with the athletes because it was a new concept, but he defended me and my work ethic, and had statistics to show how his athletes were getting less injuries since I started working with the training staff. He was a man of conviction, and did what he thought was in the best interest of his athletes, even if it wasn’t popular with everyone. I miss him already, and his influence will be missed in District 6, and in my life personally. He was a game changer in many ways. Love ya Coach!

Anonymous

“I worked for years with Coach Evans and have always been impressed by his enthusiasm, integrity, positive attitude, and dedication to the students of District Six. He had a favorite poem that he always quoted and gave laminated pocket copies to people. To this day I have it on my desk and carried it with me for years. It goes like this:

Stick to the task until it sticks to you.

Beginners are many, enders are few.

Honor, glory, power, and praise always goes to the one who stays.

Stick to the task, until it sticks to you.

Bend with it, sweat with it, smile with it too.

For out of the bend, the sweat and the smile will come life’s victories after a while.

Coach Evans is now enjoying the victories that he has earned for a life well-lived and for his dedication to helping—and coaching—other people.